Children & Family Services

Children & Family Services, as part of the Florence County Health Department, strengthens children and families by providing high-quality programs throughout Florence County. They provide programs that preserve the dignity and enhance the well-being of families and their individual members. They nurture and empower children and families for a brighter future. Children & Family Services is responsible for providing services to assist children and families, including services for children in need of protection or services for their families, adoption and foster care services, licensing of facilities that care for children, background investigations of child caregivers, refugee family services, and child abuse and neglect investigations. It administers the Wisconsin Works (W-2) program, including the child care subsidy program, child support enforcement and paternity establishment, and programs related to the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) income support program. The department is also responsible for early child care and education and also administers the licensing and regulation of day care centers.

Protecting Kids from Tobacco Smoke

First Breath Program

My Baby & Me

Maternal/Child Health

Childhood Blood Lead Testing

USDA Summer Food Program

Protecting Kids from Tobacco

Smoke

Second hand smoke comes off the end of a lit cigarette or after it is exhaled by the smoker. The smoke contains harmful toxic chemicals. Nonsmokers who are around secondhand smoke will breathe in the same chemicals that smokers do. Make a pact to never smoke in front of your children. Work toward making your entire home smoke-free. Opening a window, running a fan, or spraying air freshners will NOT keep children safe from secondhand smoke. To get more information, click on the posters below to read more.

First Breath Program

Free help for pregnant women and new moms (with babies less than six months old) with Smoking Cessation Support from your healthcare provider; One-on-One Counseling with a First Breath Quit Coach; First Breath Text Message Support. Dads, grandparents and caregivers can also get free support! To get more information, click on the posters below to read more. First Breath officially expanded its focus from just tobacco to all perinatal substance use. This means First Breath sites can refer any pregnant, postpartum, or caregiving patients/clients who use tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, illicit substances and/or misuse prescription drugs to First Breath.

My Baby & Me

My Baby & Me is a program that helps women have healthy, alcohol-free pregnancies. Any alcohol that a pregnant woman consumes is passed along to her baby. Alcohol use during pregnancy is the leading preventable cause of birth defects. There is no known safe amount, time, or type of alcohol to drink during pregnancy. To get more information, click on the posters below to read more.

Home Alone

These videos are for parents and their children who are getting ready to stay home alone. Parents and children should watch the videos together and use the short activities after each video to discuss your plans to stay safe.

Maternal/Child Health

The MCH Program works with local public health departments, community-based organizations, statewide organizations and other providers to provide and/or assure quality health services are delivered to mothers, children, and families in Florence County. The program provides home visits to first-time mothers with new babies, water testing, depression screening and informs mothers of other available services. The Wisconsin Maternal and Child Health Hotline connects you with trained staff who can offer information on services for women, children and families throughout Wisconsin, including health, food, nutrition, special needs, financial assistance and advocacy programs. This hotline is available 24 hours a day/7 days a week at (800) 642-7837. More information about the MCH Hotline is available at the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline website. Call the Florence County Health Department at 715-528- 4837 for more information. Well Badger Resource Center When you have questions about health and social services, figuring out where to go when you need help can be overwhelming. We’re here to make it easier. Well Badger Resource Center is your one-stop connection to community, social, health, and government programs - a place to find what you need, when you need it. Safe Baby Products Resource Guide

Childhood Blood Lead Testing

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends blood lead testing twice for each child from age 1-5. It is ideal to have the test once between the ages of 1-3 years of age and again between the ages of 3- 5 years of age. Taking the lead test through a blood sample is a simple procedure which can be done at your health care provider’s office through a finger prick and starting in January 2023, the Florence County Health Department will be offering free lead tests. Why is it important to test for blood lead twice before five years of age? Lead poisoning in children is defined by the CDC as a blood reference value of 3.5 ug/dl or higher. Providers may take a second test through a blood draw to validate an initial high test as the blood draw is more reliable. High blood lead levels can lead to serious short- and long-term effects to a child’s behavior and ability to learn. Are you worried about the cost? Health insurances are required to cover blood lead tests through preventive visits with no out-of-pocket costs. Medicaid/Badgercare also covers both tests for young children. To schedule a lead test for your children under 5 years of age, call 715-528-4837.

USDA Summer Food Program

The UW Extension is offering Free Breakfast and Free Lunch in conjunction with Food, Fun, and Fitness Summer Program. More information.